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See Yourself Here?
Share with us your creative projects and you could be featured on this page. Contact Jodi Greenwald
at jgreenwald@ballantynemagazine.com. The magazine staff reviews submissions and consults with
Matt Olin at CreativeMornings/Charlotte, www.charlotteiscreative.com.
C R E A T I V E S P A R K
Mural Maker
Artist brings vision to interior, exterior spaces
By Jodi Werner Greenwald | Photo by Ray Sepesy
SEE
YOURSELF
HERE?
Share
with
us
your
creative
ideas
or
projects,
and
you
could
be
featured
on
this
page.
To
be
considered,
send
a
brief
description
and
any
accompanying
imagery
to
Jodi
Greenwald
at
jgreenwald@ballantynemagazine.com.
C
R
E
A
T
I
V
E
S
P
A
R
K
Vintage
Vibe
Local
Resident
Fashions
Wearable
Art
By
Matt
Olin
and
Jodi
Werner
Greenwald
|
Photo
by
Ray
Sepesy
In
this
edition
of
"Creative
Spark,"
Morris
shares
her
creative
process
with
Matt
Olin
from
CreativeMorn-
ings/Charlotte,
www.charlotteiscreative.com.
What
was
your
original
"spark"
of
inspiration?
The
altered
couture
styles
I
discovered
on
Etsy.
But
the
more
I
searched,
the
more
what
I
wanted
was
in
my
own
head.
That
was
the
beginning
of
my
"self-taught"
adventure.
From
where
do
you
source
your
vintage
textiles?
In
the
beginning,
it
was
my
mom
being
an
excellent
early-bird
hunter
at
yard
sales.
I
now
have
contacts
that
specialize
in
sell-
ing
vintage
linens.
Friends
and
customers
also
donate
beauti-
ful
linens
to
me
to
repurpose.
How
long
does
it
take
to
create
a
single
garment?
From
two
hours
to
two
days.
Sometimes
I
will
look
at
a
large
tablecloth
for
hours,
hold
it
up
at
different
angles,
plan
the
cuts
around
the
patterns.
If
it's
big
and
beautiful,
I
pray
over
it.
I
have
to
get
up
enough
nerve
to
cut
it.
I
can't
imagine
being
a
surgeon.
Do
you
have
a
favorite
piece?
My
current
favorite
is
one
I
dyed
an
eggplant
shade
because
it
was
stained.
It
merged
per-
fectly
with
a
faux
suede
jacket
I
rescued
from
a
thrift
store.
Is
there
creative
tension
inherent
in
creating
clothes
that
are
both
works
of
art
and
something
practical
to
be
worn?
Mixing
prints
can
be
a
chal-
lenge
from
an
aesthetic
standpoint
as
well
as
a
wearable
one.
Cer-
tain
prints
and
colors
have
a
lot
more
range
of
flattery
than
oth-
ers.
Early
on
I
decided
if
I
could
merge
unpredictable
elements
and
keep
it
comfortable,
I
would
have
a
successful
line
of
clothing.
What's
up
next?
I
have
big
plans
for
my
little
scraps.
Nothing
should
go
to
waste.
I
would
like
to
see
a
whole
separate
product
line
produced
from
my
leftover
pieces.
The
cus-
tomer
would
be
informed
at
point
of
purchase
that
a
portion
of
each
sale
goes
to
help
a
specific
charity.
Anything
else
you'd
like
to
tell
us?
I
am
a
single
mother
who
started
on
a
shoestring
budget.
My
most
valuable
trade
secret
is
my
mom.
She
tags,
trims,
runs
errands
and
picks
up
all
the
slack
when
I
travel
to
shows.
She's
my
amazing
sweat-
equity,
dependable
business
partner.
Cara
Morris
creates
wearable
art
from
the
basement
of
her
Ballantyne
home.
She
sells
her
one-of-a-kind
pieces
at
boutiques,
art
shows
and
on
her
website,
www.runway45.com.
In
2016,
she
won
"Best
in
Show"
at
Waxhaw's
Kaleidoscope
Fest.
C
R
E
A
T
I
V
E
S
P
A
R
K
Written
Legacy
Simple
Notes,
Letters
Enrich
the
Human
Spirit
By
Matt
Olin
and
Jodi
Werner
Greenwald
|
Photo
by
Ray
Sepesy
What
was
it
like
growing
up
as
the
"dreamer"
in
your
family?
I
think
being
the
dreamer
was
a
direct
result
of
being
the
middle
child.
Thinking
outside
the
box
was
a
necessity
early
in
life.
Find-
ing
creative
ways
to
stand
out
and
express
one's
self
is
essential
for
everyone.
The
middle
child
learns
to
do
it
a
little
earlier
than
most.
What's
been
most
challeng-
ing
about
creating
your
book,
"A
Life
through
Letters"?
Making
sure
that
I
captured
the
spirit
in
which
my
father
wrote
his
original
letters.
That
was
ever
present
in
my
work.
It
was
such
an
honor
to
posthu-
mously
co-write
with
my
father,
and
I
wanted
to
get
it
right.
How
did
you
keep
yourself
motivated
and
accountable
to
see
this
project
through?
I
had
worked
on
the
project
starting
in
early
2013.
Then
in
January
2015
I
simply
decided
that
was
the
year
I
was
publish-
ing
the
book.
I
picked
a
date
and
would
not
let
myself
stop
until
it
was
completed.
I
would
often
think
of
the
struggles
my
father
had
in
his
life
due
to
his
physical
limitations.
That
always
kept
me
motivated.
How
do
you
want
your
book
to
make
others
feel?
I
hope
this
book
inspires
people
to
connect.
We
all
have
people
in
our
lives
with
whom
we
should
be
in
touch.
A
simple
note
or
letter
has
such
a
tre-
mendous
impact
on
the
human
spirit.
Emails
can
be
deleted
in
a
fraction
of
a
second.
As
I
say
in
the
book,
letters
can
last
a
lifetime
—
and
sometimes
beyond.
Where
are
favorite
spots
in
Ballantyne
to
get
inspired?
Rush
espresso,
hands
down.
I
spent
a
tremendous
amount
of
time
there
while
working
on
the
book.
It
is
where
I
go
to
write,
connect
and
create.
Paul
and
Jenny
have
done
an
amazing
job
of
creating
a
space
that
feels
like
a
community.
Anything
else
to
share?
I
see
letter
writing
as
a
way
to
preserve
one's
legacy.
One
of
the
very
fortunate
by-products
of
this
project
is
that
I
now
have
a
living,
breathing
tribute
to
my
father
and
our
entire
family
from
which
my
two
little
boys
can
learn.
I
would
encourage
everyone
to
take
the
time
to
capture
that
same
legacy
and
put
their
own
stamp
on
it.
FOR
MORE
INFORMATION
http://www.alifethroughletters.com
https://creativemornings.com/cities/clt
Ballantyne
author
Ashley
Davis
found
inspiration
in
his
father's
handwritten
letters
and
published
them
in
a
curated
collection.
In
our
first
Creative
Spark
—
a
collaboration
with
Matt
Olin
and
the
CreativeMornings/CLT
team
—
Davis
shares
with
us
the
joys
and
challenges
of
his
creative
process.
BALLANTYNE
SPRING
2017
96
Creative
Spark
C
R
E
A
T
I
V
E
S
P
A
R
K
Written
Legacy
Simple
Notes,
Letters
Enrich
the
Human
Spirit
By
Matt
Olin
and
Jodi
Werner
Greenwald
|
Photo
by
Ray
Sepesy
What
was
it
like
growing
up
as
the
"dreamer"
in
your
family?
I
think
being
the
dreamer
was
a
direct
result
of
being
the
middle
child.
Thinking
outside
the
box
was
a
necessity
early
in
life.
Find-
ing
creative
ways
to
stand
out
and
express
one's
self
is
essential
for
everyone.
The
middle
child
learns
to
do
it
a
little
earlier
than
most.
What's
been
most
challeng-
ing
about
creating
your
book,
"A
Life
through
Letters"?
Making
sure
that
I
captured
the
spirit
in
which
my
father
wrote
his
original
letters.
That
was
ever
present
in
my
work.
It
was
such
an
honor
to
posthu-
mously
co-write
with
my
father,
and
I
wanted
to
get
it
right.
How
did
you
keep
yourself
motivated
and
accountable
to
see
this
project
through?
I
had
worked
on
the
project
starting
in
early
2013.
Then
in
January
2015
I
simply
decided
that
was
the
year
I
was
publish-
ing
the
book.
I
picked
a
date
and
would
not
let
myself
stop
until
it
was
completed.
I
would
often
think
of
the
struggles
my
father
had
in
his
life
due
to
his
physical
limitations.
That
always
kept
me
motivated.
How
do
you
want
your
book
to
make
others
feel?
I
hope
this
book
inspires
people
to
connect.
We
all
have
people
in
our
lives
with
whom
we
should
be
in
touch.
A
simple
note
or
letter
has
such
a
tre-
mendous
impact
on
the
human
spirit.
Emails
can
be
deleted
in
a
fraction
of
a
second.
As
I
say
in
the
book,
letters
can
last
a
lifetime
—
and
sometimes
beyond.
Where
are
favorite
spots
in
Ballantyne
to
get
inspired?
Rush
espresso,
hands
down.
I
spent
a
tremendous
amount
of
time
there
while
working
on
the
book.
It
is
where
I
go
to
write,
connect
and
create.
Paul
and
Jenny
have
done
an
amazing
job
of
creating
a
space
that
feels
like
a
community.
Anything
else
to
share?
I
see
letter
writing
as
a
way
to
preserve
one's
legacy.
One
of
the
very
fortunate
by-products
of
this
project
is
that
I
now
have
a
living,
breathing
tribute
to
my
father
and
our
entire
family
from
which
my
two
little
boys
can
learn.
I
would
encourage
everyone
to
take
the
time
to
capture
that
same
legacy
and
put
their
own
stamp
on
it.
FOR
MORE
INFORMATION
http://www.alifethroughletters.com
https://creativemornings.com/cities/clt
Ballantyne
author
Ashley
Davis
found
inspiration
in
his
father's
handwritten
letters
and
published
them
in
a
curated
collection.
In
our
first
Creative
Spark
—
a
collaboration
with
Matt
Olin
and
the
CreativeMornings/CLT
team
—
Davis
shares
with
us
the
joys
and
challenges
of
his
creative
process.
BALLANTYNE
SPRING
2017
96
Creative
Spark
BALLANTYNE
SUMMER
2017
96
Creative
Spark
C
R
E
A
T
I
V
E
S
P
A
R
K
Written
Legacy
Simple
Notes,
Letters
Enrich
the
Human
Spirit
By
Matt
Olin
and
Jodi
Werner
Greenwald
|
Photo
by
Ray
Sepesy
What
was
it
like
growing
up
as
the
"dreamer"
in
your
family?
I
think
being
the
dreamer
was
a
direct
result
of
being
the
middle
child.
Thinking
outside
the
box
was
a
necessity
early
in
life.
Find-
ing
creative
ways
to
stand
out
and
express
one's
self
is
essential
for
everyone.
The
middle
child
learns
to
do
it
a
little
earlier
than
most.
What's
been
most
challeng-
ing
about
creating
your
book,
"A
Life
through
Letters"?
Making
sure
that
I
captured
the
spirit
in
which
my
father
wrote
his
original
letters.
That
was
ever
present
in
my
work.
It
was
such
an
honor
to
posthu-
mously
co-write
with
my
father,
and
I
wanted
to
get
it
right.
How
did
you
keep
yourself
motivated
and
accountable
to
see
this
project
through?
I
had
worked
on
the
project
starting
in
early
2013.
Then
in
January
2015
I
simply
decided
that
was
the
year
I
was
publish-
ing
the
book.
I
picked
a
date
and
would
not
let
myself
stop
until
it
was
completed.
I
would
often
think
of
the
struggles
my
father
had
in
his
life
due
to
his
physical
limitations.
That
always
kept
me
motivated.
How
do
you
want
your
book
to
make
others
feel?
I
hope
this
book
inspires
people
to
connect.
We
all
have
people
in
our
lives
with
whom
we
should
be
in
touch.
A
simple
note
or
letter
has
such
a
tre-
mendous
impact
on
the
human
spirit.
Emails
can
be
deleted
in
a
fraction
of
a
second.
As
I
say
in
the
book,
letters
can
last
a
lifetime
—
and
sometimes
beyond.
Where
are
favorite
spots
in
Ballantyne
to
get
inspired?
Rush
espresso,
hands
down.
I
spent
a
tremendous
amount
of
time
there
while
working
on
the
book.
It
is
where
I
go
to
write,
connect
and
create.
Paul
and
Jenny
have
done
an
amazing
job
of
creating
a
space
that
feels
like
a
community.
Anything
else
to
share?
I
see
letter
writing
as
a
way
to
preserve
one's
legacy.
One
of
the
very
fortunate
by-products
of
this
project
is
that
I
now
have
a
living,
breathing
tribute
to
my
father
and
our
entire
family
from
which
my
two
little
boys
can
learn.
I
would
encourage
everyone
to
take
the
time
to
capture
that
same
legacy
and
put
their
own
stamp
on
it.
FOR
MORE
INFORMATION
http://www.alifethroughletters.com
https://creativemornings.com/cities/clt
Ballantyne
author
Ashley
Davis
found
inspiration
in
his
father's
handwritten
letters
and
published
them
in
a
curated
collection.
In
our
first
Creative
Spark
—
a
collaboration
with
Matt
Olin
and
the
CreativeMornings/CLT
team
—
Davis
shares
with
us
the
joys
and
challenges
of
his
creative
process.
BALLANTYNE
SPRING
2017
96
Creative
Spark
Tell us more about your
Ascent Uptown mural (left)
near Romare Bearden Park.
They asked for an abstract
design in the color palette
of the building. My initial
sketches of fluid, rolling lines
morphed into an ascending
ribbon of color that worked
well for the space. I had a lot
of fun working on a 34-foot
articulated lift for this mural.
What materials do you use?
I use the same latex
paints you would use on
your home. I love when I get
to use my spray guns and
airbrushes for special ef-
fects like on the background
mist of the Ascent mural.
What does your
process look like?
I create a digital rendering
that I photoshop onto a
picture of the space so we
are all on the same page
with how the final piece will
look. It is rare for me to get
full reign with the design,
and each mural becomes a
collaboration of my clients'
ideas infused with my vision.
What other murals
have you created?
I recently finished an
8,000-square-foot underpass
in a historic neighborhood
in Greensboro. I painted
enormous daisies lining both
sides of the street. Every job
is different, and I thrive on
that variety.
Do you prefer working
indoors or outdoors?
Painting outside in spring
can be great, but I have
painted under "tarp tents" in
the rain to meet deadlines.
Interiors can be more
controlled workspaces but
have obstacles like carpet
and fine interiors that I
must be conscious of when
I get lost in my work.
How did you get into
holiday decorating?
Any trends to share?
Christmas decorating has
been my thing ever since I
was a kid constantly tweaking
our Christmas tree. Many
are opting for more of a
vintage feel. I love to infuse
unexpected elements like
antlers, strings of pearls or
additional types of lighting. I
am using more muted color
palettes than in years past.
Randall Kane
moved to Ballantyne from Southern
California in the late 1990s. He creates
murals for buildings and public
spaces and does detailed painting in
residences. During the winter season,
he decorates luxury homes for the
holidays. In this edition of Creative
Spark, Kane shares his artistic process.
BALLANTYNE
WINTER
2017-2018
96
Creative
Spark